News and Media in English
Do more with this exercise
Learn 30 words to talk about the news, TV and the internet. Read each word and its example, then do the exercises. These words help you say what you read, watch and hear, and tell other people what a journalist or a report said.
News and stories
headlinethe title of a news story
I only read the headline, so I didn't know the whole story.
articlea text in a newspaper or on a website
She wrote an article about life in a small village.
newspaper
My grandfather has read the newspaper every morning for forty years.
magazinea thin book with pictures, published every week or month
I bought a magazine because it had an interview with my favourite singer.
journalista person who writes news stories
The journalist asked the mayor three difficult questions.
reportera journalist who tells the news on TV, on the radio or in a paper
A reporter was standing outside the hospital when the news came.
reporta text or programme that gives facts about something that happened
The report says that more people are working from home.
storya news item about something that happened
The story was on the front page of every paper yesterday.
breaking newsnews about something that is happening now
We were having dinner when the breaking news started on TV.
sourcea person or place that gives information
The journalist said that her source was a person who works at the airport.
rumoura story that many people tell but may not be true
There is a rumour that the shop is going to close.
TV, radio and the internet
broadcasta programme that is sent out on TV or radio, often live
The match was a live broadcast, so millions of people watched it.
channela TV service with its own programmes
If I had more time, I would watch that channel every day.
programmea show on TV or radio
He told me that his favourite programme starts at nine.
documentarya film that tells true facts about a real subject
I've just watched a documentary about the oceans.
presentera person who talks to the audience on a TV or radio programme
The presenter was so funny that everybody laughed.
interviewa talk where someone asks a person questions
The actor said in an interview that he was learning Italian.
adverta short video or text that tries to sell something
I saw an advert for a new phone on the bus.
audiencethe people who watch or listen
The audience laughed when the singer came on stage.
viewera person who watches TV
Every viewer can vote for their favourite singer.
website
She said that the news website had changed its design.
Talking about the media
the mediaTV, radio, newspapers and the internet
The media talked about the story for days.
social mediawebsites and apps where people share things
Many people get their news from social media.
fake newsfalse information that looks like real news
He told me not to share fake news online.
reviewa text that gives an opinion about a film, a book or a show
I read a good review, so I bought the book.
opinionwhat you think about something
In my opinion, the news is too negative.
publishto print a text or put it online for people to read
The newspaper will publish the photos tomorrow.
announceto tell people something officially
The company is going to announce its new phone next week.
reliablegood to trust; you can believe it
This website isn't very reliable; it often gets the facts wrong.
subscribeto pay to get a magazine or a channel regularly
If I had more money, I would subscribe to a sports channel.
Audio uses a synthetic voice.
Practice exercises
Match the Words and Meanings
Match each word with its meaning.
Choose a word on the left, then its match on the right.
Choose the Correct Word
Choose the correct word or phrase for each sentence.
9.In a newspaper, the big title of a story is the ___.
10.She works for a TV channel and tells the news from the place where it happens. She is a ___.
11.He said that he had heard a ___ about the school closing, but he didn't know if it was true.
12.Be careful: a lot of people share ___ on social media.
13.I read a ___ of the film before I went to see it.
14.The reporter ___ us that the match had started.
15.If I ___ a journalist, I would write about the environment.
Fill in the Blank
Type the missing word.
Talking about the news and the media in English
We get the news from many places: newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, websites and social media. All of these are part of the media. When something important is happening now, TV channels show breaking news, and a reporter tells us what is going on.
A journalist writes a story or an article, and the headline is the title that you read first. Good journalists have reliable sources, so people can believe their reports. If a story only comes from a rumour, be careful: it may be fake news.
On TV, a presenter introduces a programme, and the audience watches at home. A documentary tells true facts about a real subject, and an interview lets you hear a person's own words. Between programmes there are adverts that try to sell you something.
These words are useful for reported speech. You can say The journalist told me that his source was a doctor, or The presenter said that the programme would start at nine. You can also give your opinion: In my opinion, that review was too negative.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a report and an article?
An article is a text in a newspaper, a magazine or on a website. A report gives facts about something that happened, and it can be a text or a TV programme. A reporter is a journalist who tells the news, for example: A reporter was standing outside the hospital.
Is it say or tell when I talk about the news?
Use tell + person: The reporter told us that the match had started. Use say without a person: The reporter said that the match had started. Both are common in reported speech.
What is the difference between a programme and a channel?
A programme is one show, for example a documentary or the news. A channel is the TV service that shows many programmes: I watched a documentary on a sports channel.
How can I know if a news story is reliable?
Check the source. A reliable story says where the information comes from, and other newspapers or websites report it too. Be careful with a rumour or fake news on social media.
Answer key
1. headline
Answer: the title of a news story
The headline is the title of a news story.
2. journalist
Answer: a person who writes news stories
A journalist writes news stories.
3. source
Answer: a person or place that gives information
A source gives a journalist information.
4. rumour
Answer: a story that many people tell but may not be true
A rumour may not be true.
5. broadcast
Answer: a programme that is sent out on TV or radio, often live
A broadcast is a programme that is sent out on TV or radio.
6. audience
Answer: the people who watch or listen
The audience is the group of people who watch or listen.
7. review
Answer: a text that gives an opinion about a film, a book or a show
A review gives an opinion about a film, a book or a show.
8. reliable
Answer: good to trust; you can believe it
A reliable website or source is good to trust.
9. In a newspaper, the big title of a story is the ___.
Answer: headline
The headline is the title of a news story.
10. She works for a TV channel and tells the news from the place where it happens. She is a ___.
Answer: reporter
A reporter tells the news on TV, on the radio or in a paper.
11. He said that he had heard a ___ about the school closing, but he didn't know if it was true.
Answer: rumour
A rumour is a story that many people tell but may not be true.
12. Be careful: a lot of people share ___ on social media.
Answer: fake news
Fake news is false information that looks like real news.
13. I read a ___ of the film before I went to see it.
Answer: review
A review gives an opinion about a film, a book or a show.
14. The reporter ___ us that the match had started.
Answer: told
In reported speech we say told + person: The reporter told us. We say said without a person: The reporter said that the match had started.
15. If I ___ a journalist, I would write about the environment.
Answer: were
In a second conditional sentence we use the past simple after if: If I were a journalist, I would write about the environment.
16. The ___ laughed at every joke the presenter made.
Answer: audience
The audience is the group of people who watch or listen.
17. I saw an ___ for trainers on TV. It made me want to buy them.
Answer: advert
An advert (or ad) is a short video or text that tries to sell something.
18. I haven't read the whole article. I only read the ___.
Answer: headline
The headline is the title of a news story.
19. He told me that his ___ was a woman who works at the town hall.
Answer: source
A source is a person or place that gives information to a journalist.
20. Last night I watched a ___ about the oceans. It had true facts and no actors.
Answer: documentary
A documentary is a film that tells true facts about a real subject.
21. The journalist said that he would ___ the story on Friday.
Answer: publish
To publish a story is to print it or put it online for people to read.
22. If I had more free time, I would ___ to a sports channel.
Answer: subscribe
To subscribe is to pay to get a magazine or a channel regularly.